Wednesday's gossip column
Last updated on .From the section Football
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TRANSFER GOSSIP
Real Madrid are plotting a January move for striker Luis Suarez, 26, by offering Liverpool £20m plus fellow forward Karim Benzema, 25.
AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, 23, could be reunited with his former Inter boss Jose Mourinho in a shock move to Chelsea.
Chelsea are believed to be targeting a move for Real Madrid's former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, 31, when he becomes available for a free transfer next year.
Full story: London Evening Standard
Celtic and Everton are on alert after Spartak Moscow revealed they will listen to offers for Irish winger Aiden McGeady, 27.
Toronto manager Ryan Nelsen, who spent a short spell at Tottenham in the latter stages of his career, has confirmed his interest in taking Spurs striker Jermain Defoe, 31, to the MLS.
Southampton are ready to keep it in the family by snapping up Victor Wanyama's brother - Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga, 26, in January.
Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs has indicated he would welcome the chance to sign Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa, 24, and Chelsea attacker Kevin De Bruyne, 22.
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are in the running for Basel winger Mohamed Salah, 21, but the Swiss club are likely to demand £15m for him in January.
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger, 28, insists he has no plans to leave Anfield despite telling a television channel in his native Denmark he would consider an exit if he does not play.
QPR boss Harry Redknapp says he is undecided about signing former Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun, 33, who had been scheduled to have a trial at Loftus Road.
OTHER GOSSIP
Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen, 21, says they have a genuine chance to win the Premier League for the first time this season.
Full story: London Evening Standard
But Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted the club's £30m record signing Erik Lamela is struggling to settle into English football.
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward admits he is disappointed with the club's summer shopping, and wants to help manager David Moyes bring in more top players.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has suffered a set-back in his rehabilitation from a groin injury and could miss a further three matches.
Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong, 21, is set to be warned over his future conduct after appearing to claim that his omission from Tuesday's Capital One Cup tie against Chelsea was because he is black.
Full story: London Evening Standard
Celtic and England goalkeeper Fraser Forster, 25, has been backed to make the grade at Barcelona by midfield maestro Xavi.
Wales coach Chris Coleman has emerged as a contender to be the new manager of Crystal Palace, for whom played nearly 200 games in the 1990s, after the Londoners went cool on initial first choice Tony Pulis.
Former Stoke boss Pulis is demanding a £1.5m salary from Palace to replace Ian Holloway as manager.
England full-back Ashley Cole, 32, has told Chelsea that he wants to sign a new contract and extend his career at Stamford Bridge.
Full story: London Evening Standard
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew says the club were correct to ban three local newspapers - the Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun.
Full story: Newcastle Chronicle
Manchester City defender Micah Richards, 25, wants to stay for another 10 years after celebrating a decade with the club.
Full story: Manchester Evening News
GLOBAL GOSSIP (from BBC Monitoring)
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says his club will be signing two to three players in the January transfer window and Lyon's France midfielder Maxime Gonalons, 24, could be one of them.
English clubs Tottenham and Arsenal are "engaged in a battle" to buy 24 year-old Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato for next season.
Full story: La Stampa (Italian)
Brazil national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says 25-year-old forward Diego Costa's decision to play for Spain has shattered the "dreams of millions".
Full story: Mundo Deportivo (Portuguese)
Bayern Munich's Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 27, says it is easier for him to play under Pep Guardiola than previous manager Jupp Heynckes.
AND FINALLY
Everton keeper Tim Howard credits his penalty save against Aston Villa to... his bushy beard.
